In a difficult and dangerous world, a decade on from Brexit, there is a risk that Britain loses the confidence to lead and stand up for its values.
I’m not prepared to let that happen. It is more important than ever that Britain stands for something.
We have called for years for a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we must recognise that those words are meaningless unless we back them up with action.
For too long, we have been hesitant to act, fearful of being accused of being anti-Israel.
Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.
The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world. Innocent Palestinians, including children, continue to be killed in Gaza. And there is still a humanitarian crisis, with far too little aid getting in.
The scale of destruction is hard to comprehend. More than 70,000 people lie dead - at least 20,000 of them children. Families and communities have been torn apart. Millions displaced. And the population of Gaza is now penned into just one third of the territory.
I know that people across the UK feel very deeply about this issue - and so do I.
Before I became Prime Minister, I said our country’s response had been too slow and simply not good enough. That’s why I committed to changing the government’s approach.
I will not stand by as the horrific suffering continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution - the best hope for peace and stability in the region - comes under attack.
More settlements have been approved under the four years of this Israeli government than in the previous 20 years. The UN has reported more than 1,500 incidents of settler violence so far this year, aimed at driving out Palestinians. And the situation is growing worse, fast.
The Israeli government has now approved 104 new settlements since it took office in December 2022, and ahead of the October elections in Israel, it is allowing tenders for the construction of the E1 mega settlement to go ahead. This would cut a swathe through the heart of the West Bank - snuffing out the hope of realising a two-state solution. It cannot be allowed to happen.
That’s why we are announcing a new package of tough measures to put pressure on the Israeli government:
First, we will ban the trade in goods with illegal settlements in Palestine.
Second, we have formally changed the view of the British government to say for the first time that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful - independent of, but in line with, the conclusion of the international court of justice.
And third, we will sanction individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlements. That includes any businesses or investors that take part in the construction of the E1 settlement.
In addition, we are announcing a new package of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
We are taking these steps because it is the right thing to do.
I have condemned the monstrous terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in the strongest possible terms - and continue to condemn Hamas. However, it does not justify the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza or the West Bank.
The measures we are taking are about targeting illegal settlements and increasing the pressure on the Israeli government to change course. We are not imposing sanctions on Israel as a whole, which would punish the Israeli people, many of whom disagree with their government’s position.
The Israeli people are not responsible for the actions of their government. And nor is the Jewish community in the UK. Blaming British Jews for the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is wrong, plain and simple. And it is antisemitism, plain and simple.
I met the representatives of the Jewish community just last week. I know the fear they live with day by day. My government will stop at nothing to ensure they are safe and to stamp out antisemitism in every part of our society.
The measures we are announcing today are about protecting the only solution that could see the Israeli and Palestinian people living side by side in peace and security - something that people up and down the UK desperately want to see.
The government I lead will keep working with our partners around the world to keep that hope alive.
This is 7D level chess by PM Mark Carney 🔥
🇨🇦 Carney: "Don't challenge Canada. We fuel American growth by supplying 99% of your natural gas, 85% electricity, 60% crude oil imports. I don't think You want us to stop that."
Trump is trapped from all sides 🔥
I believe Clacton deserves an MP who will spend their time shining a light on everything the area has to offer. And why wait till I'm elected? I've been to visit one of the constituency's most stunning landmarks.
Chart of the Day 🤓
Andy Burnham: "if we don’t have sufficient public control over the cost of the essentials, how can we have control over inflation?"
Reality: prices have risen much more sharply in sectors with greater state intervention than in those led by market forces 👇
You cannot write a better storyline.
20-year-old Lionel Messi giving a 5-month-old baby a bath in 2007 - the two met for a charity photoshoot organized by UNICEF.
That baby grew up to be Lamine Yamal.
Messi 🇦🇷 and Yamal 🇪🇸 will compete for FIFA World Cup 2026 championship.
Over the last 36 hours, we have witnessed the very soul of Nigel Farage — his essence.
It has been over a month since he went into hiding, since serious questions began to be raised over his undeclared £5M donation.
A month since he appeared in front of TV cameras or underwent any questioning at all.
At 8am yesterday morning, Farage released a video, from a field somewhere, calling for rage. Calling for an end to the mythical two-tier policing.
Make no mistake, those were very carefully chosen words — he understood what he was unleashing, and his wish was granted last night in Southampton.
On Tuesday, the Home Secretary made a statement to the House regarding the murder of Henry Nowack. There was, as always, an opportunity to question Shabana Mahmood — was Nigel Farage in attendance?
No, of course not.
Today, Farage was granted a question at PMQs — the showpiece spectacle of the political week in which the country's news and politics fanatics tune in to watch — was Nigel Farage in attendance?
Yes, of course he was.
He had somehow found his way into work after missing 77 separate votes in Parliament because … he would, at least for three minutes, be the centre of the country's political attention.
His question was about the murder of Henry Nowack and the violence that erupted [on his command] last night, but he would not condemn it or call for calm.
Instead, he 'suggested' that this rioting might escalate.
This afternoon, he has performatively written to the BBC because someone on Newsnight dared to accuse him of inciting the violence — playing his perpetual victim card. Again.
And there we see the soul of Nigel Farage — a craven, desperate for attention, evil, petty and pointless man.
END RANT.
🚨 WATCH: Nigel Farage is repeatedly heckled by MPs as he calls on Keir Starmer to end "two-tier policing"
Starmer: "His response has been to appeal for rage. That’s his response to a father who lost his son & asked for this not to happen... it shows exactly who he is"
#PMQs
This video was deleted from Facebook yesterday.
You know what to do ‼️
Trump in 2008: Anyone who invades the Middle East under false pretenses should be impeached.
1. It couldnt be more obvious that Harborne paid for Farage to become an MP, and potentially PM, to promote his cryptocurrency interests.
2. This does not show that Farage is “just as bad as the others”. It shows he is far, far worse. No other party leader is owned like this.
BREAKING: Republican Senator Thom Thillis just demolished Donald Trump for pardoning individuals who assaulted American police officers. Even Republicans believe Trump went too far.
@TrumpDailyPosts "I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way"....shame this was not the case when you lost the election and tried to usurp democracy. People died because of your actions.